Claus Schneider Weiler Schlipf Grauer Burgunder CS 2013
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CS is the designation given to the reserve-quality wines of the estate. This beauty has a dramatically smoky nose and voluptuous texture. The oak is effortlessly sucked up and everything about this wine is grand.
Since 1425, the Schneider family has been based in Weil am Rhein, on the border with Basel and Alsace, and has been closely associated with viticulture ever since. Even before 1881, the wines were marketed themselves and, as usual at the time, delivered in wooden barrels. The purchase of the manor house in 1892 in Alt-Weil laid the foundation for today's winery.
The company has been managed since 1982 by Claus Schneider and Susanne Hagin-Schneider. The sons Johannes and Christoph Schneider have been involved since 2015 and continue the tradition-rich estate.
From the Burgundersorten and the Gutedel only dry and durable wines are produced. The red wine is prepared by traditional mash fermentation. The wines remain for a long time on the fine yeast in the barrel. In the vineyard wines wines are produced with a high ripening potential.
Showing a unique rosy, purplish hue upon full ripeness, this “white” variety is actually born out of a mutation of Pinot Noir. The grape boasts two versions of its name, as well as two generally distinct styles. In Italy, Pinot Grigio achieves most success in the mountainous regions of Trentino and Alto Adige as well as in the neighboring Friuli—all in Italy’s northeast. France's Alsace and Oregon's Willamette Valley produce some of the world's most well-regarded Pinot Gris wine. California produces both styles with success.
Where Does Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio Come From?
Pinot Gris is originally from France, and it is technically not a variety but a clone of Pinot Noir. In Italy it’s called Pinot Grigio (Italian for gray), and it is widely planted in northern and NE Italy. Pinot Gris is also grown around the globe, most notably in Oregon, California, and New Zealand. No matter where it’s made or what it’s called, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio produces many exciting styles.
Tasting Notes for Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is a dry, white wine naturally low in acidity. Pinot Grigio wines showcase signature flavors and aromas of stone fruit, citrus, honeysuckle, pear and almond. Alsatian styles are refreshing, expressive, aromatic (think rose and honey), smooth, full-bodied and richly textured and sometimes relatively higher in alcohol compared to their Italian counterpart. As Pinot Grigio in Italy, the style is often light and charming. The focus here is usually to produce a crisp, refreshing, lighter style of wine. While there are regional differences of Pinot Grigio, the typical profile includes lemon, lime and subtle minerality.
Pinot Grigio Food Pairings
The viscosity of a typical Alsatian Pinot Gris allows it to fit in harmoniously with the region's rich foods like pork, charcuterie and foie gras. Pinot Grigio, on the other hand, with its citrusy freshness, works well as an aperitif wine or with seafood and subtle chicken dishes.
Sommelier Secrets
Given the pinkish color of its berries and aromatic potential if cared for to fully ripen, the Pinot Grigio variety is actually one that is commonly used to make "orange wines." An orange wine is a white wine made in the red wine method, i.e. with fermentation on its skins. This process leads to a wine with more ephemeral aromas, complexity on the palate and a pleasant, light orange hue.